Seaside Heights Lifeguards Make Three Ocean Saves In One Day

by Patricia A. Miller

Call them lucky. Very lucky.

The three persons rescued from the cold ocean in two separate incidents on Wednesday by members of the Seaside Heights Beach Patrol shouldn't have even been in the water. Fortunately for them, lifeguards were still nearby and were able to save all of them.

One incident involved a 22-year-old man who was swept out into the water by a rip current. The second occurred when a 12-year-old brother and 13-year-old sister became stranded on a sand bar, said Beach Patrol Chief Jay Boyd.

The ocean water was a frigid 58 degrees, he said.

"To make a rescue in that water is very dangerous on the guards also," Boyd said.

The guards were nearby preparing for the opening of the season, which officials begins tomorrow. Lifeguards in Seaside Heights will be on duty every day into September, he said.